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Park Behind Colorful Glass Panels

 

Next time I’m in Santa Monica, I look forward to taking a stroll past (or better yet, driving into) the Civic Center Parking Structure. Yes, you read that correctly – parking structure! I can’t say I’ve ever been interested to visit such a typically dull space; but then again, I’ve also never encountered one that utilizes colorful glass panels toward the goal of being “a functionally dynamic celebration of civic life,” complete with ocean views and a cafe.

It’s a smart move in a city where parking is a big part of daily life. Architecture firms Moore Ruble Yudell and International Parking Design took the opportunity to make a structure that is not only functional (it can hold up to 882 vehicles), but also sustainable and a strong visual presence in the urban landscape. The Civic Center Parking Structure is one of the first LEED™ certified parking structures in the country. Photovoltaic panels on the roof offer shade and a significant portion of the building’s total energy needs (in other words, it makes good use of solar power), while the many of the other materials used, including the steel and framing, include a high level of recycled content.

 

 

Clearly, my favorite aspect of this space is its use of glass. Between white ribbed concrete panels are bays of tempered, back-painted channel glass, set at various sizes and angles, provided by Bendheim Wall Systems. Long recognized as the source for unique specialty glasses, Bendheim really is an innovative leader in the world of architectural glass. (They’re also the sole distributor of Lamberts channel glass in North America.) Together, the rhythmic concrete and colorful glass panels create an interplay of light and shadow that is so much more pleasing to the eye than a collection of parked cars or a wall of plastered advertisements. By day, the sun directs this dance; by night, embedded neon lighting creates a moodier glow.